NEKI STRANAC: TOP 10 TRACKS THAT INFLUENCED ME AS A HUMAN BEING

Neki is one bad ass producer, one of the finest and most underrated producers in the Transnational Bass scene. If Transnational Bass was massive like Trap or Twerk or any other of the big fad genres, he would righfully be pretty massive, selling out Madison Square Gardens with his take on Silenton amongst other genres.

I first came across him when I was working on my Global Elektro mixtape back in 2006 and I was searching for Elektro tracks with a Balkan twist and I came across Shazalakazoo on My Space. We kind of got talking and kept in touch through the years.

He’ so good and prolific that it’s really hard to keep up with all his stuff, he’s a one man mad machine and every track he drops slays the dancefloors. Be It Balkan, Baile Funk, Moombahton or Zouk Bass and any number of hybrids in between.

Here he shares an awesome selection of tracks that he says influenced him as human being. Some real beauty here.

Let the chronilogical countdown begin:

10. EDVARD GRIEG – PEER GYNT SUITE No.1

Little kids watch cartoons. And I was no exception. These were my favourite tunes from the toons when I was a kid in early 80`s. Hail the Norwegian guy, he was pure pure genious.

09. THE BEATLES – WITHIN YOU WITHOUT YOU

This was my very 1st encounter with instruments and music of India. I was 6 years old then and haven`t heard about psychedelic drugs whatsoever. But I was stunned anyway. I played it again and again on my cassette player.

08. PINK FLOYD – ATOM HEART MOTHER

In the age of 10 I discovered this English band. I had a lot of favourite tunes from them in different periods of life, but all in all – this is the top one.

07. JOHN COLTRANE – OLÉ

And later on I discovered jazz. All kinds of it, but jazz in 6/4 beat was my favourite for some reason. And this American saxophonist, too

06. WALTHER VON DER VOGELWEIDE – PALAESTINALIED

Later I discovered early music. I still love it and play on woodwinds. This one is peaceful human rights propaganda song from 13th century that kindly invites the aristocracy to join the 5th Crusade.

05. SERBIAN MEDIEVAL FOLK SONG – SKOMRAŠKA IGRA

In the same period I discovered that my own tribe also had some Middle Ages. This one is a festive juggler`s tune, played in nice 9/8 beat. I even remixed it within ShazaLaKazoo.

04. J. S. BACH – H MOLL MESSE (DOMINE DEUS)

And then I discovered Bach. When it comes to Baroque – nobody beats this German guy. I know that he has far better tracks than this one, but I still like to sing this when I`m drunk.

03. ST.NECTARIOS OF AEGINA – AGNI PARTHENE

This is the Monastic Choir of Simonopetra of the Holy Mount of Athos. Brilliant. They can`t fuck because they`re monks, but hey, they can sing like angels. Full respect for them.

02. FOLK SONG FROM EPIRUS – TO MATHES MOR DOLIA MANNA

Later on I discovered folk music. And I`m still into it. I gotta be, i`m an anthropologist. This is from the mountains of North West Greece.

01. NAILJ MUŠKA – ESATOVA

The thing I like to find the most is crossover between folk songs and electronic rhythm not made by DJ`s or producers but by folk musicians themselves. This one is the best example. It`s from the Šar Mountains of the Balkan Peninsula. Gorani people, Slavic Muslim ethnic group of Serbian descent.